The National Videogame Arcade Toast Bar and Garden – all sorts of Toasted Snacks while you play

The National Videogame Arcade is the home to many an arcade machine and retro game system classic. It is a great place to hang out for kids of all ages and many people I talked to hadn’t been in because they think that you have to get a ticket to go in. Well you do need one for the museum but it seems that a little known fact is that you can go into their café; The Toast Bar for free!

That is what I have found myself doing on occasion, and apart from chomping on some great ‘toast’ themed snacks, you can also play quite a selection of arcade and video games all for free too! When I was last in a group of kids were playing Mario Cart on the Telly and some slightly older ‘kids’ were playing some other retro games a bit more quietly.

Tuna Melt

At the Toast Bar there were a lot of different toasted sandwiches ‘Toasties’ to try out. I was pretty keen to try the “Rarebit” which was a combination of cheddar cheese, crème fraiche, mustard and onion chutney. Initially I ordered that for £3.50 but unfortunately they had run out of chutney so they offered me a swap, no problem I wanted everything so I swapped for one of my other all time faves the Tuna Melt on Sourdough bread.

This was pretty good, so I didn’t mind the swap out, that is how life rolls sometimes!

The sourdough bread had toasted well and had that lovely beer taste (I know that it’s the yeast that makes the flavour, but beer taste makes me happier).

The bread was toasted just enough to make it crunchy but not to much to make it hard. I love the mix of soft tangy melted cheese and slightly salty tuna that you get in this particular sandwich. This effort at the Toast bar did not disappoint!

What else was there on that menu? Well there was one called The Pizza, and another called The Reuben which was “pastrami, mozzarella and sauerkraut with Russian dressing.” I could have easily ordered that too as I love me a Reuben.

You could have “The Roast Dinner” which is apparently, as you might guess, basically Roast beef and gravy! another one on the list was The Nacho described as being “Cheese, Tortilla chips, jalapenos, sour cream and salsa“. I was assured that it was was just like having nacho’s, but I don’t like Nacho’s so I was happy to be having the Tuna Melt!

Ooh I’ll have a Latté

I am not a massive coffee drinker but I was in the mood for a Latté and since it photographed so well I just though I would mention that 🙂 also I can then mention that they are also a great supporter of the local producer with their coffee being supplied by the Damn Fine Coffee Company, and by Lee & Fletcher, both local independent businesses!

So what else was there on that ‘Toastie’ menu? Well there was one called The Pizza, and another called The Reuben which was “pastrami, mozzarella and sauerkraut with Russian dressing”.

I could have easily ordered that too as I love me a Reuben!

You could also have one called “The Roast Dinner” which apparently basically Roast beef and gravy! or one called The Nacho described as being “Cheese, Tortilla chips, jalapenos, sour cream and salsa. I was assured that it was just like having nacho’s, I don’t like Nacho’s so was happy to be having the Tuna Melt

The Toast Bar menu was not all just about Toasties, they have plenty of other Toast related items for our delectation. I really meant to come back in to try their ‘Scrambled Eggs on toast’ one Sunday morning, and I still do plan to. You can also have ‘beans on toast’ both for £3.

If you just want some Toast?

You can get Two slices for £1.50 and they have plenty of toppings such as peanut butter, nutella, honey, sliced banana, or jam (raspberry / strawberry) and marmalade that you can add for 50p.

It is just one big world of Toast isn’t it!

They are Located at

The National Videogame Arcade 24-32 Carlton Street Nottingham NG1 1NN

Just thought I should also mention that

The Bread comes from a local artisan producer; Hambleton Bakery, and they get their cakes from Homemade which is just up the road Hockley way